pictured here), a long knife and a short throwing knife. He made all
three instruments with his own hand. When the adventurers were lost in
the woods
north of Njording, just after their encounter with the Theeroi,
Thornwaldt presented
his throwing knife to the Wizard Toma's apprentice, Suzette.
This was because she had no weapons with which to defend herself, should
the
adventurers become separated. Though the conditions were rough and rude,
the magician
insisted, nevertheless on making the presentation of the knife to Suzette a
very formal ceremony,
through which the enchantress, Grynwalt,
coached the young girl on her part in accepting it - one of the more
poignant moments in
the entire epic adventure.
This knife is marked with the magician's own monogram, in silver,
the letter `TH', (for which there is no corresponding letter in our own
alphabet) a rare piece of vanity for Thornwaldt.
Though the magician is incompetent with throwing knives ("Were it not for
gravity, I couldn't even hit the ground with it," he ruefully admitted),
Suzette quickly demonstrates an astonishing proficiency with the craft,
which comes in good stead
at Kh!'rk Q'm. The girl makes a good account of herself at the fall of that
evil city.
When the magician uses his long knife, he ties it to his wrist by means
of
a cord that is two or three feet in length. This he does to prevent his
enemies
from taking the knife from him during an encounter. By so attaching the
knife to his wrist,
he also increases the deadliness of the weapon. He can thrust and slash
with the blade clasped
tightly in his fist, or swing it by the cord in huge sweeping circles, or
hurl it short distances as
he might a javelin, thus extending his deadly reach by several feet. He
can
even drop the knife entirely, and fight an opponent with both fists (or,
sometimes, using his elbows to deliver a punch). As with the
enchantress's dirk, the magician has infused his knives with his own
magic. Though
deadly instruments, they can never do any harm to either Thornwaldt, his
allies, or his friends, neither can they be used with evil intent.
grynwalts dirk, thornwalt's long knife, throwing knife
